The effects of dietary fat supplementation on performance, fatty acid (FA) composition of tissues and antioxidant defence system of broilers were studied. Male broilers were placed in 20 floor pens (60 broilers per pen). The broilers were fed by diets with added different energy sources: lard (L); sunflower oil (SFO); soybean oil (SBO); and linseed oil (LSO). The treatments did not modify significantly growth performance and feed intake of the broilers. There was no effect of dietary FA pattern on reduced glutathione level and glutathione peroxidase activity of plasma, erythrocyte and liver samples. However, higher PUFA content of the diet resulted in a significant increase in malondialdehyde level of erythrocytes and liver. The broilers fed LSO diet more effectively maintained their antioxidant status with enhanced plasma radical scavenger capacity. FA composition in tissues reflected the FA pattern of the diets, although proportion of FAs with four or more double bonds was metabolic specific. LSO diet increased the level of C18:3, C20:5 and C22:6 in tissue lipids in relation to L, SFO and SBO diets. Significantly increased plasma radical scavenging capacity in concert with the enhanced C20:5 and C22:6 proportion in liver and muscle during LSO feeding indicate metabolic changes to counteract the oxidative injury. This may be related to the compounds produced after different biochemical pathways of n-6 and n-3 FAs.

The main aim of our study was to determine the effect of expanded and pelleted feeds, as well as the only pelleted feed based on wheat and corn, on the production of turkeys. In May 2006,, a fattening experiment on turkeys was started on the starter farm of Habar Ltd in Szarvas, owned by the Gallicoop Corporation. 17 day old male turkeys were involved in the fattening experiment. The experiment lasted 117 days. At that time, theanimals were 134 days old. After the experiment was completed, they were slaughtered. The following parameters were examined: growth, feed conversion ratio, carcass traits. Turkey feed were produced separately at different times. Similarly to the standard method of turkey fattening, 8 phases feeding was carried out. The fattening experiment was adjusted on male turkeys in 4×12×6 grouping (4 treatments: expanded and pelleted, and only pelleted corn and wheat feed; 12 repeats: number of pens/treatments; 6 birds/pen) 6-6 turkeys from 12 pens per each treatments were measured individually from the 17th day (starter) and at the time of each following feeding changes and mortality. The average of the group was calculated. The average daily weight gain, proportion of the given feed per pen, feeding changes and mortality were determined. The average daily feed intake and the feed conversion ratio were calculated.

The aim of our investigation was to determine the effects of increased PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) content on the colour, total pigment content, organoleptic characteristics and oxidative stability of poultry meat. The experiment was carried out with 1200 Ross-308 cock chicklings. Animals were fed with a 3 phase diet, and in each phase, additional fat was added to the feed. The isocaloric and isonitrogenic feed was produced as the breeder organization suggested; only the fat content differed (4 treatments: pig fat (lard), sunflower oil, soy oil, flax-seed oil).The different fat complements did not influence broiler production. However, the fatty acid composition of meat was similar to the fatty acid composition of feed (additional fats). The analyses of meat samples, after a storage period, did not significantly prove the possible negative effects of higher PUFA content.

The experiment was conducted to assess the effect of feeding lard, linseed oil, sunflower oil and soya oil on performance, chemical and fatty acid composition of broilers. The experiment was carried out with 1200 Ross-308 male broilers. They were fed 3 phase diets. These diets were isonitrogenous, isoenergetic and contained 6% oil. The result of the experiment shows no effect of different oil sources on growth performance in male broilers, however the fatty acid composition differed (p<0,05).